A/N: MERRY CHRISTMAS! I know it's been a while! I'm sorry. I've had two jobs, and I still have two jobs. But I found time to write this. I know there are errors. So if you see any, please let me know. This is my Christmas Gift to my wonderful readers who wanted the next part. Well, I hope it's everything you wanted and more! The story is slowly unfolding, and you get to meet another character and discover a little about his past. I can't wait to reveal more! I hope you all have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!


The Cave

June 13th, 2013

Early Morning

Sunlight gently streamed through the window of the broken down townhouse. In the light of the morning, Astrid could see the dust particles floating around in the air. She sighed, it wouldn't be much longer now, and they could get a real place to live. A smile flickered onto her face, as she sipped her bitter coffee. That was all the quiet she received. Seconds later, tumbling, thundering, screaming sounds came from above, and the leader of the Dragons sighed disdainfully.

"It's going to be another one of those days," She muttered into her cup.

The first one down of her crew was Tuffnut. His hair was disarrayed, and his eye was turning black. Astrid's eyebrow rose as she observed it, and his ripped t-shirt, which he seemed unaware of.

"What happened?" She asked.

Tuffnut glanced at her and winced, "Ruffnut."

"...Okay, but what happened?"

"I think I just explained that." Tuffnut turned to face her. "Where's the chocolate milk?"

More thundering steps, a wheeze and a laugh later, Fishlegs stumbled into the kitchen and flopped into a seat. "I hate Snotlout," He grumbled.

"What happened?" Astrid asked as Tuffnut covered a smirk.

"Well, I was on my way to the bathroom, you know how I am... I like to be clean! And Snotlout kicked me in the bottom area of my backside, and rolled me down the hall away from the bathroom. Just so he could use it first," Fishlegs' expression was injured, and he tapped his fingers together like a little Asian girl from an anime.

Astrid pressed her fingers to the bridge of her nose, "Okay, I'll talk to him about it."

Suddenly there was a lot of loud screaming, followed by Snotlout saying something that was garbled over the sound of metal colliding with wood.

"I said I was sorry!" Snotlout shouted from the bottom of the stairs. Lodged next to his head was a double-sided axe. The other three stared at him, and when he turned to face them he shrugged.

"Girls."

"Tell me about it," Tuffnut said, rolling his eyes.

"Excuse you, what do you think I am?" Astrid asked, lifting a brow.

"Uh... our leader? Duh." Snotlout fist-bumped Tuffnut, who laughed uncontrollably.

"Idiots!" Ruffnut finally joined the team, slamming herself into a seat and dropping her double-sided axe on the table.

"WHOA!" They all screamed at once.

"Ruffnut!" Astrid stood, pointing at the weapon. "How many times do I have to tell you? No axes at the table!"

"Sorry. Just thought I might need it to lob someone's head off," She glanced meaningfully at Snotlout who looked uncomfortable.

"No Red Queening today, please. We need each other."

"After this can I?"

Astrid glanced at Snotlout in consideration, "Maybe."

Ruffnut grinned wickedly, "Until later then." She tucked the axe behind her chair, as Snotlout shuddered.

"So what's the plan?" Fishlegs asked, tucking his legs under the table.

Astrid smiled, "We are going after this," She tossed down an image in a magazine. They leaned in for a closer look. "The Winter Snowglobe."

"Whoooooa," Ruffnut whispered in awe, "This thing is renown throughout the whole world as the most expensive, most incredible snowglobe to ever be made."

"Don't forget the most intricate, most delicate, most... most... most everything in the whole world. Did you guys know it cost over ten billion dollars to make?" Fishlegs said.

"I heard it was formed in the North Pole, and Nick Clause found it!" Snotlout added.

"I don't know anything about it," Tuffnut confessed, shrugging. "Looks like a piece of glass in gold."

"Not 'in gold', you swine!" Snotlout snapped, "It's being held up by gold."

Tuffnut shrugged again, "Whatever."

"Lady and gentlemen, this is our next target. It will definitely put us on the map, and when we're through, no one will even remember who the Big Four are."


Somewhere in Oregon

June 13th, 2013

3 a.m.

"You know..." Hiccup yawned, "We could have done this yesterday." He finished, scratching his mop of brown hair.

Jack rolled his eyes, "Pretty sure I explained why this needed to be done in the morning." He tromped ahead of the group, making good time through the tangled brush and trees.

"But why?" Merida said, her voice echoing the sleep-deprivation they all felt, except for Jack. Their white-haired leader turned, "Because, the man we're going to see isn't awake during the day. He's only up at night."

Merida passed Rapunzel a quizzical expression, "Is this man a vampire?" She asked, lodging her foot in the hill and pressing on. Rapunzel sighed, moving along next to her as quickly as her feet could manage. "And nobody said anything about hiking!"

"The man isn't a vampire," Jack said. "And hiking will almost always be involved in our job, even if you don't realize it." They were all about to ask what he meant when he stopped suddenly, and they all almost ran into him.

"There." He pointed at a small cabin sitting under one of the largest trees Hiccup, Rapunzel and Merida had ever seen.

"Whoa..." Hiccup whispered.

"That's a huge tree!" Rapunzel exclaimed. Jack clapped a hand over her mouth, putting a finger to his lips.

"You have to understand the nature this situation," He whispered. "The man we are dealing with is no ordinary thief. He's been classified EDC by governments all around the world."

"What's EDC?" Hiccup asked.

"Extremely dangerous criminal."

Hiccup rolled his eyes, "That ticks me off."

Jack released Rapunzel and turned to face the house, "It's no joke. He's one of the best in the whole world. Only..." He paused.

"Only what?" Merida asked suspiciously.

"Only he's retired now."

"Oh great, so we're going to a retired criminal?" Merida rolled her eyes, "Why didn't we just go to a retirement home and pick up an old person? I'm sure that would have worked too. 'Hey granny, what're you doing?' 'Oh you know, just stealing!'"

"Sh! Keep your voice down. He has extremely sensitive hearing. You never know what he'll hear." Jack started toward the door, going as quietly, and as quickly, as he could. The group followed suit, and once they reached the door, Jack knocked.

Silence echoed back at them, and sweat trickled down their necks. Merida began to feel uneasy, and shifted her feet.

"Why aren't there any lights on?" Rapunzel whispered.

Jack looked through the window. "Crap."

It was the only word he got out before something hit all four of them smack-dab in the face, and their worlds went dark.


Somewhere in Oregon

Unknown date

Unknown Time

Jack groaned as his sense began to return to their proper functions. His eyes blurred harshly, until he blinked the sleepy winks out and sat up. Slowly, his gaze traveled over the room. It was an unconcerning room. There were no paintings, no tapestries, no wall decor of any kind. The floors were a dark red-brown that Jack recognized as cherry wood. The little furniture that was in the small room, was all occupied by his friends, each one still zonked out from the sleep powder.

"Geez, did you have to use so much?" He mumbled, rubbing his face.

Suddenly, he was aware of someone else in the room. He lifted his head and faced the man he had come to for aid.

"Hi. It's been a long time..." He paused. "I need your help, Sandy."

The figure stood quietly, he made no move to reply or to gesture that he understood. His stance was calm, but Jack knew better than to underestimate the legendary Sandman, as he had been dubbed by the media. Jack's blue eyes twinkled in the moonlight which shown brightly through the huge french doors, that led out onto a patio. They sat there, sizing each other up, Sandy's face hidden in the shadows of the room. Then the man Jack had come to call friend, stepped into the moonlight. A bright smile spreading over his face. Jack knew then that everything was fine, and rushed to his friend with a laugh. He pulled Sandy in for a tight hug, and felt the warm cotton of Sandy's shirt on his face.

Jack pulled back first, grinning down at his friend. "It's been too long," he said. Sandy nodded his blonde head. He waved a hand at the other three in mute wondering. Jack looked over his shoulder, wincing. He'd forgotten all about them.

"Woops. Yeah, that's my new crew. Friends of mine," he smiled sheepishly at Sandy. "You hit them with sleep dust much harder than me, didn't you?" His short friend shrugged his shoulders in an unconcerned way. Jack tucked his hands into his jacket pockets, "You always did like to go overboard."

Sandy grinned again, and gestured for Jack to sit. Jack took a seat while Sandy stoked a fireplace, there was a nip in the air after all. Jack watched his old friend work, glancing at his new friends, who slept like little babies. He smiled, unable to help how funny it was to see Merida drooling, Rapunzel snoring, and Hiccup twitching. When the fire was in full flame, Sandy turned back to face Jack, a smile still on his face.

"Sandy..." Jack said seriously. "Something's happened. Something bad."

Sandy's smile vanished and he took a seat next to Jack, waving for him to continue.

"Someone stole the Mona Lisa I had plans to steal," Jack's blue eyes grew colder as he spoke. "I think I might have a spy in my ranks." His eyes drifted over the three, "But I can't be certain." He looked at Sandy. "I just don't know how else they could have figured out what we were planning to take."

Sandy glanced at the three members of the Big Four, and gave Jack a dubious look.

"I know, they look hilarious, and incapable of hurting a squirrel. Trust me though, these kids are far more dangerous than they appear. Merida... she can hit anything from yards and yards away. Not to mention her martial arts skills." He sighed. "I just don't know who I can trust..."

Sandy sighed, he looked like he didn't know what to say. He knew almost better than anyone, what it was like to be betrayed. Jack sat quietly, waiting while Sandy thought.

Suddenly, Sandy began to sign in the air. Jack turned to pay attention, reading the sign language as Sandy signed it. He nodded here and there. "Good idea, Sandy. I like that. Now... onto why I really came."

Sandy's eyes widened, as if to say, "that's not what you came here for?!"

Jack smiled, "Sorry. No. I came for this..." he handed the Sand Man a picture. "I'm going to steal that, and I'm going to catch our Dragons with it."

Sandy's eyes grew as wide as dinner plates, he signed frantically. Warning Jack against it. But Jack shook is head. "Not a chance, Sandy. I'm doing this. That's why I need your help. Them? Don't worry about them. I'll handle that. I just need you for the other half."

The man next to him sloped his shoulders in resignation, before grinning. It was dangerous, but it was also the chance of a life-time. This was one heist Jack wasn't going to fail.


A Few Hours later

Same Place

Hiccup woke first, his head felt lighter than usual, but other than that he had no pain. He sat up slowly, looking around the undecorated room. "What the..." He saw the fire and wondered where they were.

Jack strolled into the room as if he just appeared in unknown places all the time, and saw Hiccup awake. "Hey buddy, you feelin' okay?"

Hiccup blinked, "Where are we?"

"The Sandman's house."

"WHAT?!" Hiccup shouted, lunging forward, only to fall back again as he swooned.

"Easy!" Jack caught his arms and lowered him onto the chair.

"Jack, the Sandman is one of the most-"

"Dangerous criminals of all time, I know. I told you that."

"I knew that already." Hiccup frowned. "Jack, why'd we come to him? And where is he?"

"He left. And why we came to him will be made clear when the others wake up." Jack absently poked the fire, one hand in his hoodie pocket. Hiccup noted that, a tingle of fear trickled down his neck. "Jack..." He whispered. "What are you planning?"

Jack didn't reply, he kept his back to Hiccup and continued to poke the wood, making sparks fly. What Hiccup couldn't read were Jack's eyes. Eyes that froze despite the warmth; eyes that no longer trusted his companions. After all, a liar will always suspect another liar.